Improvement in weft-stop mechanisms for looms



W. TAYLOR. WefbStop Mechanisms fof Looms.

N'llsmzr 2 Sheets--Shelet 1.

Patented June 9,1874.

' mmmmlim UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM TAYLOR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN STOP-MOTION COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMETIN WEFT-STOP MECHANISMS FOR LOOMS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 161,727, dated June 9, 1874; application filed January 24, 1874.

provenient in the device for stopping the lay of 'alooni when a weft-thread breaks or is absent, said device being so arranged that the lay stops before the shed changes, and also before the crank of the driving-shaft gets in line with the pitrnan, or on a dead-center`- that is, the lay stops with the crank in such a position that it can be easily pushed back by the operator.

In case a weft-thread breaks so that its end remains within the shaft, if the shed is allowed to change this broken thread is woven in, and has to be found and picked out, and the harness-chain and shuttle-boxes have to be moved into proper position before the loom can be again started 5 but if the loom is stopped before the shed is changed, and before the crank has got onto its center-that is, before the lay has reached the end of its forward stroke, and before the last thread (the broken one) is beaten up, and while it still lies in the open shed-then 4the operator has simply to push the lay back, which has the effect in modern looms of opening the shed still more, and to put the shuttle into the shed two or threeV threads back from the point at which the end of the broken thread lies, and pass it through into the shuttle-box. This will leave the shed with a thread in two parts extending through it, the two ends of the thread overlying a little. Then the loom maybe started, and the work go on, thus avoiding all waste of thread and saving much time.

In case the thread ybreaks at such a point as not to be within the shed at all, then the shuttle is taken from the box, and passed again through the entire shed into its box, leaving a weft-thread ready to be beaten up, and the loom is in condition to start. In case the thread is broken after passing the last selvage, but before it reaches the detecter,

then the thread should be connected at this.

selvage.

If the thread has all run out of the shuttle the loom stops as though the thread had broken, and it is only necessary to putV inv a full shuttle, observing the same direction as given in the case of a broken thread= My invention also relates to relieving the thread from the strain brought upon it by the detecter-fork. This I do by a device which lifts the fork slightly after it has fallen onto the thread, and holds it, so as to relieve the thread from the weight of the fork while the lay is near the breastbeam, both in the forward and backward stroke.

Figure l is a plan, showing my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view ofthe same.I Fig. 3 is a part of the back of the lay, showing the dagger letoff device. Fig.`4 is a section,

showing theA lay in the position it assumes when stopped by my improved device. Fig. 5 is a section of a part, showing the device for operating the detecter. Fig. 6 shows the position of the weft-thread before the change of shed. Fig. 7 shows the position of the weftthread after the change of shed. i

A represents the' breast -beam of a loom, and B the lay. To the rear of the lay I attach the shaft F, and to it the detecter-fork G H, Fig. l, K representing the stationary grill attached to the lay. This shaft F has upon it a Enger, N, Figs. l and 5, which is acted upon by the bent lever 8 9, Fig. 5. This bent lever 8 9 is acted upon by the cam-arm l0, Which is attached to the breast-beam A. (See Fig. V5.) The function of this bent lever is to throw up at the proper time the detecter-fork H. This it does by acting through the finger N and shaft F. (See Figs. 5 and l.) V Z, Figs. l, 2, and 3, is a lever-dagger, which serves to stop the lay.v This lever is pivoted to the protector-rod WV, and otherwise held in position by a strong bracket, 5, attached to the lay. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) This dagger is so arranged in connection with the working parts that it is held in such a position by the latch let-off R P, Figs. 2 and 3, that the point Z will pass under the bent knock-off lever X ateach forward motionof the lay, and not stop the loomso long as the weft-thread is on the grill of the detecter; but in case the weftthread is absent from the grill, then the detecter-fork will fall through the grill. This action will cause the finger M to strike the arm R of the let-ofi latch 'R I?, and throw its hook (at I?, Fig. 3) out of contact with the end V of the lever-dagger V Z, thus allowing the endV to be thrown down by the spring 23, Fig. 4, and the point Z to rise sufficientlyhigh to strike the knock-off lever X, Figs. 1 and 4. This lever, acting through the sliding rod 1 and 2, throws off the belt-shipping lever in the usual manner. The dagger Z also serves to stop the further motion of the lay since it rests against the arm X, which can only move sufficiently far to ship the belt, when its further motion is arrested by the check 3, Figs. 1 and 4. Thus the farther advance of the dagger Z is abruptly terminated, and consequently the lay will vbe stopped absolutely with the crank E in the position shown in Fig. 4-that is, before it comes into line with the pitman D, or on dead-centers, and the shed is open. With the lay and crank in the position above described, the lay may be readily pushed back and the shed opened wide, leaving the whole in condition for readily finding the broken weft-thread and properly placing the shuttle. NVhen this lever V Z has dropped from the let-oftl latch P, as above described, the loom should not be restarted until the end V of the dagger-lever V Z is replaced in the let-off latch I?, Fig. 3. This is done by means of the treadle-rod 6, or its equivalent. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) Instead of the treadle device for replacing the dagger-lever, an automatic device may be used.

The object of the dagger let-off device is to separate as much as possible the connection between the detecter-fork and the dagger-lever.

Heretofore the two devices-that is, the detecter-fork and the dagger-have been connected together, so that the weight or pressure necessary to cause the dagger to do its work was added (by connection of the parts) to the detecter-fork, so that the detecter-fork could not act with the required delicacy on weak weft-threads.

By my invention of transmitting the motion from the detecter-fork to the lever-dagger by means of a let-off device, I secure a greater delicacy of action of the detecter-fork, and still preserve the rmness and strength of action required by the lever-dagger.

The device for relieving the weft-thread from the pressure ofthe detecter-fork H consists of a wedge-pointed piece, L, Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, which I will call the reliever L. This reliever L, as now made, is fastened to the breastbeam A, and is so placed that its wedge-shaped point extends over the grill of the detecter when the lay is near the breast-beam. In case the detecter-fork H rests upon the weftthread, as shown in Fig. 5, then this reliever L will pass under the detecter-fork and raise it, so that it will not cause any strain on the weft-thread-that is, it will allow the weftthread to be drawn along under the detecterfork, so as to allow sufficient length of thread between the detecter and the selvage to prevent breaking during the motion of the lay, as might happen in case the thread was pressed upon by the full weight of the detecter-fork. This reliever L must be so placed that it will not interfere with the falling of the detecterfork. The detecter-forks fall soon after the passage of the shuttlethat is, at the time that the lay has made about half of its ad l vance stroke. If the thread is not present, then the fork will fall through the grill, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the reliever L would pass over it, and not interfere with it at all.

This reliever should be made adjustable, and, if desirable, the reliever may be arranged to move with the lay,its position relative to the detecter-grill being changed automatically by the action of the lay itself.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown the condition of a weft-thread before and after the changing of the shed.

In Fig. 7 it will be seen that the weft-thread 1.6 is locked in between the warp 14 and 15, and can only be removed by revolving the harness-chain back; but in Fig. 6 the weftthread 20 is shown in an open shed as it is left when the lay is stopped by my device.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with the detecter-fork G II, the iinger M and the let-olf latch R P, constructed and operating, to let off the leverdagger, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the treadle and rod 6, the lever-dagger V Z and the let-oft' latch R I), constructed and operating substantially as described.

3. The combination of the reliever L with the detecter-fork H, operating together, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM TAYLOR. 

